Sunday, April 21
Fullerton, Calif.
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
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Cal State Fullerton
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Cal State Fullerton
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Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Outlasts Fullerton in 12 Innings to Complete Sweep
4/21/2024 5:40:00 PM | Baseball
FULLERTON, Calif.---CSUN Baseball posted a four-run 12th inning and held on for a 7-5 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Sunday at Goodwin Field. The win secured CSUN its first sweep of the Titans since 2002. Shunsuke Sakaino finished 4-for-4 with a triple while Andrew Sojka went 3-for-6 with an RBI and Jakob Simons had three RBI. The Matador bullpen tossed six-plus shutout innings prior to giving up a pair of runs in extra innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
There would be just one total base runner through the first two innings before CSUN broke through in the third inning. Andrew Sojka collected CSUN's first hit, a leadoff double, while both Kamau Neighbors and Will Linberg were hit by pitches with two outs. Simons stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and launched a bases clearing triple for a 3-0 lead.
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The Titans were able to get a run back in the home half of the third on back-to-back hits as Eli Lopez drove in Frank Estrada on an RBI single.
In the fourth, the Titans evened the game up with two more runs. Fullerton loaded the bases with one out before Justin Vose walked in a run. CSUN's lead would be erased when Colby Wallace hit a grounder to first, allowing Moises Guzman to score from third to tie the game. Blake Ignaciak would come in and get out of a bases loaded jam to prevent any further damage.
After the fourth inning, runs would be hard to come by for both sides. CSUN's bullpen received a big lift from Ignaciak who pitched a shutout fifth and sixth. Diego Gutierrez followed Ignaciak and came up big as well, working the seventh and eighth with no runs across.
In the ninth, the Matadors picked up a pair of hits and had runners at second and third with one out. Simons was at the plate and fought to a 3-2 count before he was called out for stepping outside the batter's box too late. Jarren Sanderson would strike out as well, keeping the game tied at 3-3.
Fullerton had its own scoring chance in the bottom of the ninth after a walk and a sacrifice bunt put the winning run at second base. Wallace hit a sinking fly ball to right center, but Simons made a diving catch to prevent the run from scoring. A two-out error kept the inning alive before Hayden Hall struck out Lopez.Â
In extra innings, Hall pitched around two singles in the 10th then retired the side in order in the 11th.
The Matadors finally broke the 3-3 tie in the 12th on back-to-back hits. Sakaino set the table by singling before swiping second base. Moments later, Sojka delivered an RBI single to give CSUN the lead. Mason Le followed with a two-run triple for a 6-3 lead then Kamau Neighbors laid down a sqeeze bunt to drive in Le.
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In the home half of the 12th, the Titans picked up a two-out, two-run double from Max Ortega, but Hayden Cody would shut the door by retiring Waldie Perez on a flyout.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"Our bullpen was definitely the star of the weekend. Blake Ignaciak, Diego Gutierrez and Hayden Hall couldn't have had better performances, and we were very proud of them. The defense also delivered with two timely double plays, a sliding catch by Shun Sakaino, with the winning run at second, three diving catches in the outfield, two by Jake Simons and one Andrew Sojka. I'm happy for Sakaino and Sojka having big series performances when they've been scuffling. It was overall a team effort and a great series for our guys."
UP NEXT
CSUN completes its road stretch with a Tuesday midweek game against Fresno State at 6 p.m.
#GoMatadors
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
There would be just one total base runner through the first two innings before CSUN broke through in the third inning. Andrew Sojka collected CSUN's first hit, a leadoff double, while both Kamau Neighbors and Will Linberg were hit by pitches with two outs. Simons stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and launched a bases clearing triple for a 3-0 lead.
Â
ÂThere goes that man again.
— CSUN Baseball (@CSUNBaseball) April 21, 2024
Simons clears the bases with a three-run triple!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/0JAHbG0Kka
The Titans were able to get a run back in the home half of the third on back-to-back hits as Eli Lopez drove in Frank Estrada on an RBI single.
In the fourth, the Titans evened the game up with two more runs. Fullerton loaded the bases with one out before Justin Vose walked in a run. CSUN's lead would be erased when Colby Wallace hit a grounder to first, allowing Moises Guzman to score from third to tie the game. Blake Ignaciak would come in and get out of a bases loaded jam to prevent any further damage.
After the fourth inning, runs would be hard to come by for both sides. CSUN's bullpen received a big lift from Ignaciak who pitched a shutout fifth and sixth. Diego Gutierrez followed Ignaciak and came up big as well, working the seventh and eighth with no runs across.
In the ninth, the Matadors picked up a pair of hits and had runners at second and third with one out. Simons was at the plate and fought to a 3-2 count before he was called out for stepping outside the batter's box too late. Jarren Sanderson would strike out as well, keeping the game tied at 3-3.
Fullerton had its own scoring chance in the bottom of the ninth after a walk and a sacrifice bunt put the winning run at second base. Wallace hit a sinking fly ball to right center, but Simons made a diving catch to prevent the run from scoring. A two-out error kept the inning alive before Hayden Hall struck out Lopez.Â
In extra innings, Hall pitched around two singles in the 10th then retired the side in order in the 11th.
The Matadors finally broke the 3-3 tie in the 12th on back-to-back hits. Sakaino set the table by singling before swiping second base. Moments later, Sojka delivered an RBI single to give CSUN the lead. Mason Le followed with a two-run triple for a 6-3 lead then Kamau Neighbors laid down a sqeeze bunt to drive in Le.
Â
Back on top.
— CSUN Baseball (@CSUNBaseball) April 21, 2024
Andrew Sojka comes through to bring home Shun Sakaino. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/XtcHlloDA8
In the home half of the 12th, the Titans picked up a two-out, two-run double from Max Ortega, but Hayden Cody would shut the door by retiring Waldie Perez on a flyout.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improved to 23-14 overall and 11-4 in Big West play while Cal State Fullerton slipped to 13-24 overall and 5-13 in conference.
- Hall was credited with the win and improved to 5-1. He worked 2.1 shutout innings with three strikeouts.
- Ignaciak worked 2.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen while Gutierrez tossed 2.2 shutout innings.
- Neighbors went 1-for-4 to extend his on-base streak to 19 games and hit streak to 18 games.
- Linberg extended his on-base streak to 18 games after a 2-for-6 day.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"Our bullpen was definitely the star of the weekend. Blake Ignaciak, Diego Gutierrez and Hayden Hall couldn't have had better performances, and we were very proud of them. The defense also delivered with two timely double plays, a sliding catch by Shun Sakaino, with the winning run at second, three diving catches in the outfield, two by Jake Simons and one Andrew Sojka. I'm happy for Sakaino and Sojka having big series performances when they've been scuffling. It was overall a team effort and a great series for our guys."
UP NEXT
CSUN completes its road stretch with a Tuesday midweek game against Fresno State at 6 p.m.
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hall, Hayden (5-1)
L: Gurnea, Chad (0-4)
Batting:
2B: Sojka, Andrew 1
3B: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 1 ; Le, Mason 1
RBI: Neighbors, Kamau 1 ; Simons, Jakob 3 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Le, Mason 2
SH: Neighbors, Kamau 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Neighbors, Kamau 1 ; Linberg, Will 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 2 ; Griffin, Ben 1 ; Le, Mason 1
SB: Linberg, Will 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 2
HBP: Neighbors, Kamau 1 ; Linberg, Will 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 1
Batting:
2B: Latta, Maddox 1 ; Ortega, Max 1 ; Estrada, Frank 1
RBI: Lopez, Eli 1 ; Ortega, Max 2 ; Bardowell, Matthew 1 ; Wallace, Colby 1
SH: Ortega, Max 1 ; Schardt, Jakob 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Latta, Maddox 1 ; Regino, Nico 2 ; Guzman, Moises 1 ; Estrada, Frank 1
HBP: Latta, Maddox 1 ; Estrada, Frank 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
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AB
6
R
0
H
3
RBI
3
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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LHP
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